Sheila Terry was a blonde, vivacious actress who appeared in several films and Broadway plays in the late 1920s and early 1930s. She was known for her roles opposite John Wayne in westerns such as Haunted Gold and The Lawless Frontier. She also starred in Madame Butterfly, Scarlet Dawn, and You Said a Mouthful. However, her promising career faded away as she struggled with personal and financial problems. In January 1957, she was found dead in her New York apartment, apparently from a suicide by overdose. She died broke and alone, and was buried in a pauper’s grave on Hart Island. What led to her tragic end? Here is a brief overview of her life and death.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Sheila Terry was born Kathleen Eleanor Mulhern on March 5, 1910, in Warroad, Minnesota. She had a wealthy uncle who wanted her to become a teacher, so she studied education from 1927 to 1929. She taught in a country school for a while, but her dream was to be an actress. She inherited some stocks from her uncle, but they lost their value in the 1929 crash of the stock market.
She then moved to Toronto, where she studied dramatics at the Dickson-Kenwin Academy, a school affiliated with London’s Royal Academy. She also acted in stock theater for about seven months. Later, she moved to New York, where she continued her studies and appeared in several plays. She was spotted by a film scout while performing in The Little Racketeer on Broadway, and was offered a test that resulted in a contract with Warner Bros.
Hollywood Stardom
Sheila Terry made her film debut in 1932, and quickly rose to fame as a leading lady. She worked with some of the biggest stars of the time, such as James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and Cary Grant. She also became a frequent co-star of John Wayne in his early westerns. She was praised for her beauty, charm, and versatility. She once said, “You learn to crawl before you walk, and breaking into pictures is the same thing. I don’t think I’ll play anymore secretaries, but I was glad to do them – every one was training.”
She had some notable roles in films such as You Said a Mouthful (1932), Scarlet Dawn (1932), Madame Butterfly (1932), Lawyer Man (1933), Parachute Jumper (1933), Haunted Gold (1932), ‘Neath the Arizona Skies (1934), and The Lawless Frontier (1934). She also returned to the New York stage briefly in 1933. However, despite her talent and popularity, she was often cast in secondary or supporting roles, or had her parts reduced or cut out entirely. She once complained that she had played in 25 films in nine months, but only a few of them gave her more than a few lines of dialogue.
Personal Problems and Retirement
Sheila Terry had a turbulent personal life that affected her career. She married Major Laurence Clark, a wealthy Toronto socialite, on August 16, 1928. They separated on August 15, 1930, and she divorced him on February 15, 1934. In 1936, she married William Magee Jr., a San Francisco businessman, and retired from show business. However, their marriage also ended in divorce in 1937.
She tried to make a comeback in Hollywood, but could not find any work. She then turned to public relations and worked as a press agent for various clients. She also became involved in some scandals and lawsuits that tarnished her reputation. In 1947, she said in an interview, I’m going back into show business and I need an act. I can’t sing, I can’t dance and I can’t play the piano. I should be terrific in night clubs.” However, she never achieved her former success or fame.
Death and Burial
In January 1957, Sheila Terry’s body was discovered in her third floor apartment at 241 E. 60th St., which was both her home and office. A friend and neighbor, Jerry Keating, went to check on her after he failed to reach her on the phone. The door was locked and she did not answer the bell. He called the police, who broke in and found her body on the bedroom floor, her back leaning against the bed. Five empty capsules were on the floor beside her.
The police suspected that she had committed suicide by taking an overdose of pills. Friends told them that she had returned from a trip to Mexico some time before her death and that she was ill when she came home. It was later discovered that she died penniless, leaving only a scant wardrobe. She was 46 years old.
She was buried on Hart Island, New York, a public cemetery for unclaimed or indigent people. Her grave was marked only by a number. Unless her friends pooled funds to give her a proper burial, she would remain in a pauper’s grave.
Conclusion
Sheila Terry was a talented and beautiful actress who had a promising career in Hollywood and Broadway. However, she also faced many challenges and difficulties that led to her downfall. She died alone and forgotten, a tragic victim of the harsh realities of show business. Her story is a reminder of the fragility and uncertainty of fame and fortune.
